#IamMGH Black Voices – Meet Maxine Castello

#IamMGH tells the stories of our people. In honour of Black History Month, we’re centring the voices and lived experiences of our Black staff and physicians throughout February. Meet Maxine Castello, Manager, Renal and Oncology Programs at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH).

“I’ve been working at MGH since 1990 in several nursing areas, including Orthopedic Surgery, Medicine and Palliative Care. I have a CNA certification in Oncology and have been in the Oncology Program for the past 15-plus years. I was inspired to go into Nursing by my friend who worked at MGH – or Toronto East Health Network as it was called at the time. She was the first professional person of colour I knew at that time and she was passionate about her work in healthcare. As a teenager wondering what to pursue as my career, she inspired my pathway into nursing.

The inspiration I felt from my friend helped launch my career at MGH as a nurse. I have had so many great mentors at MGH who saw my potential and encouraged my journey towards leadership. They saw potential in me I did not see in myself because of some negative experiences I had as a person of colour, especially in the education system. I eventually became a Patient Care Coordinator, transitioned to a Supervisor and am now the Manager for Renal and Oncology Programs at MGH.

Seeing my colleagues grow and reach their potential is the most rewarding part of my position. Just as my friend inspired me to get into healthcare, I love to encourage people to pursue their passions and work in programs at the hospital that make them truly happy. I am also passionate about the patient journey. Patients trust us to care for them with dignity, respect and compassion. I love that MGH has so many initiatives that keep patients at the centre of their health care journey.

Working at MGH has shown me how the virtues of quality, inclusivity and diversity are continuously present in each area of the hospital. I truly appreciate all the work MGH has done to ensure each person who comes through the door – regardless of colour, race or gender – is respected and treated equally. MGH’s Inclusion Alliance is a great example of how listening to others can foster a future of equal treatment for all in this community. This is not an easy journey, but I’m happy we have started it.

Growing up, I’ve had a lot of negative experiences as a person of colour dealing with racism. The most painful, unfortunately, coming from some of my teachers not recognizing me for my intelligence in school. I’ve had some great people in my life who have been instrumental in helping me get pass the negative trauma and helped me believe in myself and my strengths. A wise person in my life always reminded me that the different levels of melanin do not make me any less valuable. We are stronger united and learning from our differences is a gift, and not an excuse to hate.”